Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-12-16

1 more surprised. 1t did not taste of the
black at all.
My next step was to throw meat over
board. Ny friends, particularly those
owed small bills, told n. that it would kill
me, and they looked dreadfully alarmed.
But turned q deaf ear to all advice and
stopped at once. 1t was harder work to
leave pie and cake, particularly pie. l
think quarter of juicy mince pie, hot
from the oven on a cold winters morning.
is something worth living for; but l ban
ished it and all its relations forthwith. l
also stopped eating preserves and cheese;
but retained butter. / believe il would
have killed me to have given that up. l
ate milk, and potatoes, and other vegeta-
b!es IN moderate quantities. In addition
to this abrupt change of diet l drank
pint of hot water an hour before each
meal, and also just before retiring. The
result was simply wonderful. l did not
gain in flesh, for l come of lean, lank
stock which no amount of eating can
round out Into plum eness, but l began to
laugh now and then; to say good morn
ing" with something of a hearty ring in
the tones of my voice, and to go about
my daily vacations with no warning OF
my stomach that the various viands had
swallowed were in band-to-hand combat.
Weeks and months rolled away and my
dyspepsia was thing of the past. l
have never had it since. l rarely eat
meat, and myself and family There are
six of us) use graham flour exclusively,
with the addition of good yellow corn
meal. Oatmeal ground to -four is another
favorite food, and MY children have been
reared from infancy on it. We are never
sick. Neither DO We expect to be. If
God has declared that He helps the man
who helps himself, he certainly takes par
tlcular care of the individual who eats
plain food, breaths pure air, takes moder-
ate exercise, and battles at least once a
week. l perused a dainty receipt in
popular cook book not long since. 1t was
called angels Food" 1t was wonder
full compound of eggs, spices, and grease,
and would, possibly, fill the boarding
school miss with visions of delight; but |
very much fear the average angel would
pass it by with averted gaze, dropping,
perchance, tear at the presumption of
that foe to progress, good health and uni
versal civiliZ ation-the modern cook.
Women in China.
Atlantic Monthly
China, after being known to Europe for
over five hundred years by Europeans
only, has at length spoken for herself
Colonel Tckeng XII Tong, military at
tache to the Chinese Embassy in Paris.
tells US that women, although excluded
by Chinese custom from society and con-
seluently unable to exert their power
in various ways familiar to the women of
the West, have an authority in the house
hold beyond anything known in Europe
or America. The Chinawoman is her
husbands equal before the the law, and
can buy, sell, contract, ALLEVIATE or con-
duct eny business negotiation in his place.
She has complete control of her children
and of their education. Her own, al
though not solid according to our notions,
is practical and graceful. Besides dunes
tic accomplishments, poetry and elegant
literature have place in her studies, and
are often her favorite recreations. Skill
in painting and embroidery is held in
high esteem, and the cultivation of pow
ers especially within doors, Is one OF the
daily pleasures of every woman of lels-
ure. That charming taste and luxury is
SoAiAoA ioA yoho tudb We lm-
agine, even with our lighthouses and con-
serVatorles. Her amusemenfs are limited;
games of cards and Lotto are among the
most exciting. 'If heaven gives her
childreu," declares Colonel Tcheng, "and
a good husband, she is certainly the hap
piest of her SEX" Matrimony is univer-
sal and entered upon very early. Cell
bacy is condemned as a vice, aud an old
bachelor or an old maid is looked upon as
a monster. Marriages are made while
the partses are extremely young, accord
ing to our notions, and are arranged by
the parents or the next of kin, when the
future consorts are children. Love-mak-
ing, courtship, engagements in our sense
of the term are unknown or impossible.
Women, although they go out unveiled,
live IN sort of gyneceum, by which only
their immediate kinsmen have access
The preliminaries are frequently man
aged by discreet and Jealous friends, or
even by respectable professional go be
tweens. The first step in the alliance is
solemn ceremony of 5etrcthal, empha-
sized by festival in both families, when
thu contract ID signed by the parents and
heads of the respective houses, and the
Bridegroom sends the bride pair of
bracelets i'll token OF espousal; but nei-
ther she nor he are present on this occa-
sion. Later he sends what is known in
France as the corbille, or those articles
OF brides wardrobe which are not in
cluaed in the trosseau. In China they
consist of silk and cotton stuffs and en-
5rcideries, and are literally sent in a
basket, or rather, III several dozen very
handsome ones. This is the signal for
another pompous ceremony; and, on the
brides part, there comes in return
splendid dress, to be worn on the we'd
ding day, which, if her future husband is
already man of rank, is the uniform of
his grade; every degree of mandarin is
distinguished by his costume, and after
marriage the wife wears a dress CORE
spending to his title. The bridegroom,
moreover, sends to the lady's family
presents of choice eatables, notably a pc
culiarly delicious sort of cake, to be dis
tributed among the acquaintance in an
noGncing the engagement. The marriage
must be concluded within a year from
this interchange of gifts.